Charl McLeod move to France

Top 14 play-off contenders Grenoble signed South African scrum-half Charl McLeod on Sunday on a two year contract from Super Rugby outfit the Sharks.

The 30-year-old, capped once by the Springboks, could be joined by compatriot international wing Gio Aplon, who was South African player of the year in 2010.

“We are simply awaiting him (Aplon) to send back a signed letter confirming his departure (from the Stormers),” the club said.

McLeod, who scored five tries in 52 appearances for the Sharks since he joined them in 2008, is a two-time Currie Cup winner with the Sharks.

Aplon, 31, has been capped 17 times by the Springboks and scored five tries.

McLeod is the latest in a series of high profile signings for next season with Racing-Metro’s highly-rated fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski, his clubmate Julien Brugnaut, Blues Jackson Willison and Dax’s Remy Hugues having committed themselves.

Grenoble are presently in the sixth and final spot for the post regular season play-offs, although they missed a chance to go at least four points clear of seventh-placed Toulouse when they suffered a surprising 22-20 defeat at home to bottom side Biarritz on Saturday.